Saratoga News
Sports
Jasper leads Prospect to a pair of Santa Teresa Division wins
By Dick Sparrer
Jennifer Jasper tossed in 40 points and ripped down 25 rebounds in two games last week, and the Prospect girls basketball team took two steps closer to a possible championship in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League--and it's stating the obvious by saying one had plenty do with the other.
Jasper's big week helped the Panthers whip Independence 45-36 and Oak Grove 42-33 as they pushed their record to 9-1 in division play and to 15-7 overall.
The Panthers share first place in the division with Branham. The Bruins are also 9-1 in the division, they only loss a 52-50 setback at the hands of Prospect. Branham came back to beat the Panthers 50-36 a couple of weeks ago.
Prospect managed to win twice last week to remain hot in the race for the title, thanks in no small part to Jasper. The 6-foot sophomore poured in 24 points and snagged 11 rebounds in the win over the Eagles, and she canned 16 points and grabbed 14 boards in the victory over the 76ers. Jasper also blocked seven shots against Independence and four more against Oak Grove.
Senior guard Shelly Otaguro supported with 11 points against the Sixers. She tossed in a three-pointers and led the Panthers with four assists.
Sophomore forward Simone Scott added seven points, Katie Kinder had six, Leah Williams hit a three-pointer and Taylor Kikuchi had two. Kinder added three rebounds and Kikuchi had two rebounds and two assists.
In the win over the Eagles, Otaguro drilled eight free throws to support Jasper's scoring effort. She also led the team with 10 steals and five assists.
Kikuchi had six points, including 4 of 4 at the free-throw line, and four assists, and Scott and Williams had two points apiece. Scott had two rebounds and a blocked shot, Kinder had a steal and three assists and Sarah Eseroma had two blocks, two steals and three assists.
The Panthers, who were to host Live Oak on Feb. 6, will head to Silver Creek on Feb. 8 and to Mt. Pleasant on Feb. 13 before closing out the regular season at home on Feb. 15 against Willow Glen. All games begin at 7 p.m.
The Westmont girls finished the week with a split in Mt. Hamilton Division play. The Warriors topped Santa Teresa 58-55 but lost 43-38 to Piedmont Hills.
Junior Kelly Gregg led Westmont in the win over the Saints with 17 points, including seven free throws.
Senior Megan Scheibli was close behind with 16 points. She had three threes among her four field goals and she added five points at the free-throw line. Stephanie Priest supported with eight points on four field goals and Alyssa Kanzaki had seven points.
